Investigation of leptospirosis in patients with clinical suspicious of dengue in São Paulo State

• Grant number: 15/06446-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Helio Langoni
• Grantee: Felipe Fornazari
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonoses of great importance, with high incidence in Brazil. Many cases are not diagnosed, especially because of the low specificity of symptoms and the lack of laboratories available for diagnosis. Thus, leptospirosis is considered a neglected disease that needs more epidemiological data. The present study has the objective to detect undiagnosed cases of leptospirosis, by analyzing sera samples submitted to dengue diagnosis (ELISA), but with negative result. Due to the similarity of clinical signs of both diseases, it is probable that many cases of leptospirosis are mistaken with dengue, a disease with higher incidence that causes great concern among health professionals. Therefore, it will be possible to identify and quantify the underreported cases of leptospirosis, and evaluate the importance of this disease as a differential diagnosis in suspicious cases of dengue. Serum samples of approximately 3,500 patients will be analyzed, sent to Instituto Adolfo Lutz in Bauru, SP, which serves 36 cities of São Paulo State. The diagnosis of leptospirosis will be performed using the Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction and the Microscopic Agglutination Test. Frequencies of positivity and serogroup for each city will be calculated. The results will allow implementing and updating preventive measures against leptospirosis, such as: guide health professionals, improve diagnosis and medical care services, drive epidemiological vigilance activities and guide public policies workers. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FELIPE FORNAZARI; VIRGÍNIA BODELÃO RICHINI-PEREIRA; SÂMEA FERNANDES JOAQUIM; PEDRO GABRIEL NACHTIGALL; HELIO LANGONI. Leptospirosis diagnosis among patients suspected of dengue fever in Brazil. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, v. 27, 2021-03-26. (15/06446-6)